1800 meets 2019 on ice

Eras collided — but people didn’t — on the ice at the Fort George rink for the first annual Regency Skating Party on Saturday.
The rink and the fort were both a-bustle all afternoon, with demonstrations, musket firings, a Regency-era fashion show, and skating. Sentineal Carriages ferried people on the bumpy path between the two locations, and added to a real sense of what life was like in the early 1800’s.
Reenactors made their way to the event from all over Ontario, many having made outfits specifically for the skating party. Abel Land, a period costumer based in Guelph, hand stitched a spectacular gentleman’s overcoat with mink trim and wooden buttons. Both Land and local Rick Meloen even wore period skates.
Dozens of regular skaters seemed to enjoy the anachronism of the Regency enthusiasts, and stayed to watch the skating contest, judged by Parks Canada’s Scott Finlay as Sir Isaac Brock. Meloen won as the best (and only) amateur; three reenactors were also given prize baskets of goodies from local shops.
You have almost a whole year to plan your outfit for next year’s event — the gift shop at Fort George has patterns to get you started.

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